Filipino Bishops urge ban on political dynasties

January 30, 2013: Catholic bishops in the Philippines have issued a pastoral letter, urging the government to end political dynasties and the culture of impunity and corruption within government. The letter was issued on Tuesday at the end of the bishops' three-day annual plenary assembly in Manila. "We must voice people's concerns, be their moral guide, be with them," said Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu, president of the bishops' conference. He said the love of the Church has to bring to people the Gospel with all its social, political and ethical implications In a statement read at a press briefing, the bishops said they were aggrieved that legislators themselves defied the constitution by not passing a law that banned political dynasties. "We denounce the continued existence of political dynasties and the continuing delay of passing a law to implement a constitutional provision banning them," the bishops said. Referring to mid-term elections in May. Bishop Broderick Pabillo, head of the bishops’ social action secretariat, said “We are not telling voters who to vote for. We respect the dictates of their conscience. We just give them guidance,” he added.